Tuesday, November 4, 2008

I am totally excited to go vote today. I don't care if the lines are long or if the person if front of me will smell like a rotten banana, today excites me. I might have to go to a bar to watch the election results roll in (after I race in the Tuesday night short track MTB race of course). A change is brewing, no matter who wins, and we can finally take out some old garbage. That said... GOBAMA!

This past Friday night, I went to a Halloween party near Mill Ave in Tempe. We took a stroll down Mill later in the night and let me say, the costume watching was top notch. One of my friends was dressed as Michael Phelps (just like 25 other people), but the fact that he is 6'6" tall made him look really authentic. People kept chanting U.S.A, U.S.A every time he did the arm flap, which looked damn authentic. I was a #2 pencil (don't ask) and Tom was SpongeBob. I will post some pics later when I get them off my camera.

Saturday, we went riding at McDowell Mountain park to preride for the 24 Hours of Fury coming up this weekend. Yup, last minute 24 hour race...nice... I am doing it with a 4 person team though so it shouldn't be too bad. I am excited because I love the course (10 miles through amazing desert terrain) and we have a kicken RV to stay in from my friends racing team. Should be good times, being the slowest link.

Anyway, I have to go cast my vote. It is high of 76 and sunny today which is why I live in this big sand pit.

[--POST VOTING UPDATE--]I went to vote and once again ran into the crap that is known as Arizona's Muddled Election Process. I was sent an early mail in ballot even though I never asked for it and it got lost in the muddle of fake mail and other crap. I only opened it last week, figured it was too late to send back and just decided I would go to the polls to vote. I honestly saw it as an alternative way to vote if I so chose. So when I show up at my polling station, they tell me that I can not vote since I already was sent a ballot and can't vote twice. I was invited to fill out a provisional ballot. F that. I had to do that last time and I am not doing it again. So I had to get the early ballot which I luckily had not thrown out, and fill it out and put it in a Tupperware container (unlocked of course) to cast my vote. I swear, this shouldn't be this hard. Why are they sending ballots to people who don't request them and then turning them away then they show up in person at a polling station. It just gives people ammunition for accusations of voter fraud. Anyway, I did cast my vote and now I feel better if not annoyed. Can we please enter the 21st century with voting at some time in my lifetime?

I had to fill out a provisional too. My name wasn't on the roster at my polling place. I even had my voter registration card with me that had my correct address on it which would land me at the polling place I went to. What the heck went wrong?!?

I'm just a girl seeking outdoor fun and adventure from a large hot sandbox full of opportunity. Hiking, climbing, biking, rugby, kayaking, adventure racing, camping and ultimate frisbee drive my passions in the great state of Arizona. I love photographing my explorations and then exclaiming "this is so going on my blog."

HEY GUESS WHAT?!
Arizona has flowers...in the winter.
And tons of rocks for climbing.
But did you know Arizona has water?
And of course, Arizona has cactus.
But also big trees, on high mountains.
ARIZONA...It's a dry heat!PS, I am not getting paid by the great state of Arizona...YET. [crosses fingers]